With Or Without You There Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I will always have something left to give.
With or without you,
To test my best.
And have you take that away...
Will not come to empty my heart.
Or drain it to restart to fill.

You will find that out one day.
And when you have stopped,
Portraying someone you are not....
I will still be me.
Giving and not afraid.
With or without you...
My steps have always been brave.
Even though you have tasted my weaknesses...
Don't believe I am of weakness made!

I am not...
I repeat!
I am not afraid to be me!
Or have that exposed for others to see.
With or without you,
I know happiness!
With or without you...
That is what I share.
With or without you there,
Here...
Or wherever you are,
To care or not!

I am clear about who it is I am.
With or without you,
To understand.
And I hope one day,
You will find that within yourself to say!

With or without you...
Something we once had,
Has finally arrived.
In your head...
And you are glad,
'Something' about us...
Is finally being understood!
And you can and should seek deep,
Your own happiness.
Your own to keep.

And not take away from others...
What you believe they have,
For yourself is good!
Eventually,
What is taken ceases to be.
And you will wish to stop the 'bleeding'!
But it wont and it can't,
If you could!

With or without you 'there'...
I am here and of that,
I am too well aware!